IT’S a tough challenge across countryside near Romsey and charities will benefit.

Bradbeers Relay Marathon 2015 on Broadlands Estate is just over a month away but entries for the challenge are coming in fast.

The event, on Sunday, April 19, organised by the Rotary Club of Romsey, has already attracted 55 teams and more than 500 competitors but the club say there is still time to enter.

Charlie Daniel-Hobbs, chairman of the organising committee, said: “We very nearly have our full compliment of teams but it would wonderful if we were up to our maximum. The relay marathon offers the change to not only to raise funds, but for charities to showcase their work, and for the community to rally behind so many good causes.”

He added that the teams that have signed up to the challenge so far are made up of friends, families, businesses, schools, youth groups, sports clubs, charities and churches.

One team taking part for the second year is Romsey Rockets whose members include Roy Bishop, Nick Harris, Emily Draper and Anne Campbell. They will be raising cash for Jane Scarth House cancer support centre, where Jane is the manager.

Nick, a senior sales negotiator at Morris Dibben estate agents, said: “Having raised over £3,000 last year, it is hoped that funds raised will surpass the £5,000 mark this year.”

He said that he team was made up of staff members from Morris Dibben, who participated last year, local residents and Morris Dibben tenants.

As well as raising cash the Rockets are keen to improve on their tenth position from 2014.

Teams of up to 10 people can take part in the challenge which will see individuals running two laps of a 1.3-mile course before passing the baton on to the next team member. There is an entry fee of £100 per team.

To enter contact info@romseymarathon.co.uk for more information.